Solo Road Trip Summer 2026

Since I started Grass Goddess Consulting, I’ve been writing blog posts sharing my experiences at events and conferences I attend. There are a few different reasons I started and continued to write about my journey in cannabis, and at the top of the list is to be authentic.

This year, I decided to pause writing full blog posts about every event and have just written a short LinkedIn post and have focused on creating other content. I started asking people a question and recording their answer to, ‘What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started in cannabis?’ It’s been really interesting, and since editing the videos and sharing the content takes time, my blog posts have been sacrificed. 

So what am I doing right now? Well, I had a very special experience this summer, and I wanted to document it, summarize some of my thoughts, and also share it with anyone who might be interested.

From July 8th to July 16th, I drove cross-country from Chicago back to San Diego in my mom’s old car. And interestingly, I did most of the historic Route 66, which is celebrating it’s 100 year anniversary. Also, I had no idea that I was doing this until I looked it up around my third stop after seeing signs and wondering how close I was to doing it. Well, until Flagstaff, apparently I did the whole thing. But Sedona was just too good to pass up. 

There are so many things swirling around in my mind that I want to make sure I capture, but I think it’s important to start by making it clear that this was not my first road trip. I lived in Boston 2013-2014 and drove back to San Diego taking a northern route. It was a very different trip than the one I just did, both very special and amazing, but oh so different.

I’m not going to rehash a trip I did a dozen years ago, but I will share that it was early November and I was driving my hardtop, rear-wheel drive convertible. There were so many early snowstorms that year, and I had to shovel more than a foot of snow off my car in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and when I got to Bend, Oregon, they didn’t even have their snowplows out for the year, which was unfortunate. That trip was a bit dicey.

So doing a shorter drive in a more sensible car in the summer sounded like a piece of cake, right? And it actually was, but I was INCREDIBLY lucky. I snuck around massive flooding, multiple wildfires, and extreme temperatures and didn’t have a single issue. Also, a month ago I had no idea I would be making this trip, and I can honestly say I planned it perfectly. Road trips are unpredictable, and planning out the right stops where you actually want to spend time can be challenging. I made four stops along the way, and three were places I’ve never been; the two I spent the most time in were both magical, and I would love to go back.

I want to get one more thing off my chest before I get into the journey. I did this road trip by myself. I did the last one by myself as well. The MOST common question I got when chatting with various people along the way was about me doing the trip by myself. And as I’m writing this, I’m still surprised by this, especially after the nomad culture that exploded since my last trip. But I would say at least half of the people I spoke to about my trip commented on it.

This always makes me think: would they say the same thing if I were a man? And though the sentiment came mostly from men, some women made similar comments. I don’t really want to spend a lot of time digging into this. But I do want to say, I live by myself, I run my business by myself, I travel by myself all the time, so why couldn’t I drive myself across the country? Anyway, I want to tell you about my trip!

My first stop after I left Chicago was St. Louis. And I know a lot of you are going to say what Jeanne Sullivan said to me after I arrived: Dina, you didn’t get very far. It definitely was my shortest driving day, but it was somewhere I’ve never been that I’ve wanted to go to, and it was far enough that I could get away with just one more stop before I got to the area I wanted to spend my time in.

St. Louis is one of those places that was so close to me growing up, and I feel like there are so many reasons I could have gone since, but just never had. I wanted to see the Arch and get a feel for the city, and I’m so glad I did. The one thing that I couldn’t move was a podcast I had agreed to do months ago, and it was the day after I planned to leave from Chicago. Knowing I had to do that and likely some other work in the afternoon, I planned to go to the arch in the morning and got a ticket in advance so I could take the tram to the top.

My drive to St. Louis was easy. But when I got to the hotel, my room wasn’t ready, and the people working the front desk were clearly having a day. It took a while to figure out where to put me, and while I was waiting there, I heard someone say something about bad wifi. So I asked the woman helping me, explaining that I’m recording a live webinar (oh yeah, I found out the day before it was live and not recorded) the next day, and she said it was pretty bad, but to come before my webinar and ask for the conference wifi, and that should be strong enough. It really was necessary and made a big difference, so glad I figured that out during my fun at reception. And something I’ll keep in mind in the future if I ever find myself at a hotel with insufficient wifi speed.

After getting settled and having some dinner, I called it a night so I could get up early for my exploring. Thursday morning it was already starting to get hot and definitely humid, but not too bad to walk less than a mile over to the arch. I made it there with time before my tram ride to check out the museum under the arch. It’s really nice and cool down there, with a well-done exhibit and a nice gift shop.

The tram ride is interesting. They describe it as a combination of an escalator, elevator, and ferris wheel, and each one only holds five people sitting very closely together. The door turns into a window as you go up, and you can see the inside of the arch, which is pretty cool. It was fun to get to chat with the random people that I got very close to during our ride up and down. One came down from Toronto for the World Cup and was checking out the Cardinals game, so we chatted baseball a bit. When you get to the top, they keep telling you that you only have five minutes, but that’s really all you need. It’s pretty tight quarters up there as well and very slanted, so a bit odd. But the views are unbelievable, and the experience was totally worth it.

When I was done, it was hot, and I needed to get back and ready for the webinar. It went well, and then I went out right after to visit a couple nearby dispensaries. I’ve heard good things about the Missouri market and was excited to see it in person. They have bulk/deli-style flower, so it’s fun to be able to see the nugs and smell it before buying. But the rest of the shopping experience was on a screen, which isn’t my favorite. Their packaging is pretty sterile, but I was impressed with all the products I tried, including some prerolls. I managed to find Cherry Pie, one of my favorite strains, in Missouri and New Mexico, which felt meant to be and also fun to compare.

With my two longest driving days back-to-back, I wanted to take it easy and ordered some food and called it a night. Friday morning I woke up, got ready, and hit the road right around when I planned. I would need to stop once to get gas about an hour into my drive, but otherwise was hoping to drive pretty much straight to Oklahoma City. Shortly after I left, there was a crazy downpour that lasted for about 30 minutes. Right around the same time, I got a flood watch alert on my phone and also a CNN alert about floods in Missouri. But I lucked out- just the 30 minutes, and then it was smooth sailing. I stopped and got gas and noticed that the car looked cleaner, and I didn’t have to scrub the windshield, so I appreciated that.

I pulled up to the hotel in OKC - one I had visited almost five years ago when my clients took me to the rooftop bar there after dinner - right when I had hoped to arrive. The room was very nice, and they had a sparkling ginger lemon drink in the lobby when I arrived. I walked around a bit in the intense heat, smoked one of the joints I got in Missouri, and recognized a few places from my previous trip. Then I put my feet in the pool and ordered dinner and caught up on work. The people at the hotel were really nice, and though my goal was to get in and out of Oklahoma as quickly as possible, my visit was lovely.

People comment a lot about how I do an eight-hour driving day by myself, and honestly, it doesn’t bother me. As long as I can use cruise control, it doesn’t take a big toll on my body, and I just play music and soak in all of my surroundings. Some places are more interesting than others, but I have so many memories of random things I saw along my drive. For example, a dead armadillo on the side of the highway. I’ve seen a lot of roadkill, but that was a first!

Bringing me to my favorite sign that I saw when driving through Oklahoma. The sign said: ‘Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates.’ This sign kept me thinking for a while after I passed it, and that helped the time fly by. The first thing that came to mind was how many times this has happened, which caused them to create this sign. Next, I started thinking about how they seem to be focused on the wrong problem. If they don’t want the inmates hitchhiking, maybe try not letting them escape. And lastly, and maybe this is my opinion, but if the inmate is hitchhiking on the highway, they are no longer escaping and have already escaped.

My second day driving eight hours in a row was also pretty easy. I didn’t have this planned, but I knew I was driving through a bit of Texas and was hoping to stop at a Buc-ee’s if the opportunity presented itself. Fortunately, I passed right by the one in Amarillo and had to stop and check it out. If you haven’t been, it’s a very over-the-top truck stop with a ton of food options, including BBQ, fudge, a bakery, a whole wall of jerky, and another of candy. Really, anything you could want they have. The men working at the BBQ counter would start hooting and hollering every so often, and the place was bustling and a bit much for me, but such an experience to have!

The rest of the drive was uneventful. As I drove up to Santa Fe, I knew I had made the right decision where to spend my time. I had three nights to soak it in, and it looked unlike anywhere I’ve been before, so I was excited to check it out. When I got to the hotel, it looked beautiful, and everyone was so nice. But my room wasn’t ready, so I went to the restaurant and got something to eat and caught up on my phone.

This is the second time that I arrived at a hotel after 4 p.m. and the room wasn’t ready, and I have to say, it’s pretty annoying when you’ve been driving all day. But by the time I was done eating, my room was ready, and it was such a nice room! A ton of space with a great bathtub and a Nespresso coffee maker. The server at the restaurant told me about a world folk art market in town, so I looked that up and found out I could get a free ticket to check it out the next day.

Then I went to check out the pool and hot tub. I met a couple who were celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary and chatted with them a bit. They told me about a plaza close by with stuff going on all the time, including music and vendors. When I got back to my room, I decided I would walk down to check it out and have some dessert since I ate around 4:30 p.m.

I ended up at a spot called The Churro Bar and got a flight of churros that the woman working there recommended. I took them to go and noticed a dispensary right next door that I decided I would check out another day. I knew ahead of time that Santa Fe is at a high elevation and I tend to get dehydrated on driving days, so I felt a bit affected by the altitude and just took it easy and headed back. The churros were amazing!

Sunday morning was the first day in a while that I didn’t have anything I had to wake up and get going for, so I took it easy. I found a breakfast place close by in a converted home and sat on the porch and had an amazing quiche and salad. A mother and daughter were sitting next to me and started talking to me a bit. They came to see Madame Butterfly at the Opera and have a little girls’ weekend. Santa Fe did feel like a great spot to meet up with a group of ladies.

After that, I walked over to the folk art market, stopping at a dispensary on the way. I chatted with the budtender for a while and got a good overview of the products available. Not a big selection, but it seemed like a good variety, including some high-quality products like rosin edibles. The folk art market was a cool experience. Artists from all over the world were selling at the market, and also a variety of food vendors and performances. Some Hawaiian dancers were performing, and I sat on the grass for a while. It was really crowded, so I didn’t stay too long, but it was a fun experience.

On my way back, I stopped at the dispensary next to Churro Bar and really enjoyed chatting with the budtender for a while. They had a bunch of products, including wellness products they make like bath salts, tinctures, and some fun drinks. I picked up some Cherry Pie prerolls, a drink with CBG, and some bath salts since I had that great tub! Then I stopped by Churro Bar again and got a different flight to take back with me. Since I had been walking around all day, I decided to put on a jumpsuit and go to the hotel restaurant and have a nice meal. I had some amazing sea bass and enjoyed people-watching.

When I did my road trip 12 years ago, before it became clear that I’d be taking a northern route, Taos was one of the places I had heard about and was on my list of where I’d like to visit. After all this time, and living just a state away, I still hadn’t been to New Mexico, and since Santa Fe is just about 90 minutes from Taos, I figured I could head up there for a day and finally cross it off my list. It was a beautiful drive, and Taos is a cool town with an artsy vibe, like Santa Fe, but also different. I had some lunch and walked around the town checking out shops. I bought some souvenirs and gifts and some chocolate from a cute chocolate shop with a lovely young woman from the Bay Area who helped me.

Several people mentioned the High Road drive from Santa Fe to Taos, and it seemed like it would take too much time, but after I looked it up, it appeared totally doable for the drive back. Both drives were beautiful and different, but the highlight for me was crossing the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge on my drive back. It was a fun little day trip, and I’m glad I got to see more of New Mexico.

Tuesday, I got up to drive to my last stop, Sedona. The valet brought my car out, and I loaded it up and then got in to leave but couldn’t find the key. When I drove to Taos the day before, they had put it above the visor, so I checked there and in the ashtray and couldn’t find it. I found the valet guy who brought it around and asked him where the key was, and he said it was above the visor. I said it wasn’t, to which he replied, ‘I bet you $5 it is.’ I was like, what? That is such a crazy thing to say in this situation.

So then we walk over to the car, and I show him, and then I say maybe it fell, so I move the seat and look for it, and he walks away. As he walks away, I say, ‘Where is my $5?’ and he goes, ‘That’s where I put it.’ So I kept looking and lifted my water bottle in the cup holder, and there is the key. I went and told him, and he just shrugged and walked away. I guess my $5 winnings are the tip I had planned to give him, which he did not get. Disappointing that was my last interaction in Santa Fe; otherwise, the people were lovely.

People rave about Sedona, so I knew it was going to be special, and it exceeded all my expectations. The drive was shorter, and I went through my last time zone change, so it felt like I got there in no time. I also talked to some people, so that helped pass the time.

When I got to Flagstaff, I couldn’t believe how beautiful and green it was after driving through the desert for a while. Then I turned down towards Sedona. I meant to stop and get gas around Flagstaff, but I was talking to my friend, Chris Carroll, and all of a sudden I was heading down the mountain to Sedona. I knew I had enough gas to make it, but I would be close to empty, which I try to avoid. Luckily, the ride into Sedona is downhill, so I cruised into the stunning town with plenty of gas to spare.

Driving into Sedona was one of my favorite driving experiences from both my road trips. The red rock formations and the beautiful landscape were jaw-dropping. I felt like I had absolutely picked the right final stop on my trip and was so excited to explore a little the next day.

I checked into my room, and it was gorgeous. Every place I stayed was very different, and it’s hard to compare, but I feel like I did save the best for last. Every other place I stayed was a Marriott. I wanted to keep earning points like I do when I travel for business and also used points that I had earned for my longest stay in Santa Fe since the hotel was more expensive to offset costs of the trip.

This one I booked through Hotels.com, and I picked it because it had a spa onsite and was not too expensive. On my final day, I wanted to treat myself to a few hours at the spa to unwind before I got home and reset my body after the long driving days. But first I went to explore the town and have brunch before it got too hot out. The town is really cute, and the views as I was walking around were incredible. I also drove up to a lookout point near the airport and had a few minutes of peace before some tour buses showed up. Seriously breathtaking. I definitely want to go back and explore some more and maybe check out the famous energetic vortices.

The spa was so relaxing. I had an amazing massage, a great facial, and even drank the crystal-infused water. I pretty much had the place to myself, so I enjoyed the peace and left feeling fabulous. I went back to my room and got ready for dinner and walked to the onsite restaurant for a burger and fries. The table next to me was a couple and a widow, all over 80. They started talking to me and were saying how they recently moved to Sedona and how it’s the most lovely place with kind people, and they are so much happier than anywhere else they lived. Maybe it’s the vortices?? They also couldn’t believe I was driving cross-country by myself. Glad we all got to learn a bit from each other.

When I got back to my room, they were setting up for a movie on the lawn outside. Decided not to watch, but it was fun to have different activities around the hotel to choose from. There was also a labyrinth you could walk around and meditate, and fire pits and chairs for stargazing.

Thursday morning I started my drive home, and when I realized I was driving through Phoenix, I knew I had one more stop I needed to make. Driving out of Sedona towards Phoenix was as beautiful as the drive from Flagstaff, but very different. I love that I got to see it all.

When I got to the Phoenix area, I made a quick detour to one of the Lou Malnatis and picked up some frozen pizzas to take home with me. I almost always have some in my freezer and was planning on ordering some soon, but this allowed me to skip the markup to have them shipped on dry ice. And the girl working there was from one of the Chicago suburbs as well. It made the trip feel complete.

Driving home, I was feeling incredibly grateful. I threw this trip together very quickly, and it went perfectly. I told my mom how I was feeling, and she replied, saying that I’m a good planner, which is true. I planned it perfectly. But there was also a massive amount of luck involved. And I want to talk about this because I feel like people sometimes confuse what's within someone's control versus what’s luck. And after this trip, I definitely recognize both played a big part.

I got very lucky when it came to all the crazy weather I dodged as I crossed the majority of the US. Storms, floods, fires- a lot was going on. In fact, the week before I visited Sedona, people had to cancel their trips because a nearby fire made it too smoky. I didn’t smell smoke while I was there until I was leaving Thursday morning, but the fire was still going on.

When I got close to San Diego, there were signs that there may be delays because of a nearby fire. Then I drove through an area where it was clear it had just recently burned on both sides of the freeway. I could smell it strongly, and there was still a fire truck. When I got home and looked it up, the freeway was closed because the fire had jumped it and had just opened shortly before I got there. Now that was lucky.

Driving cross-country alone is not for everyone, but I love it. I’m already thinking about another trip and highly recommend it to anyone thinking about it. It’s important to know your limits when it comes to driving and to really think about the places you want to stop. Ideally, I like to stay at least two nights, but it depends on the place and how much time I have for the trip. And remember altitude changes! That got me both trips, but I was prepared for it this time.

The last thing I'll add is that when I'm traveling alone, I talk to people a lot more. I'm an introvert, and I like my alone time. If I'm traveling with others or for business, I'm not talking to a lot of people randomly because I'm already getting enough interaction. But on these two road trips, I talked to a lot of random people. People in restaurants, in shops, in hot tubs - lots of places and lots of different types. I think that's an important part of the journey, sharing some of your story and learning someone else's.

And thanks for the car, Mom. I took her on an adventure, and now she's a California girl just like me.